Caracalla (April 4th 186 - April 8th 217) born Septimius Bassanius then called Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus was Roman Emperor of 211 with 217.

Childhood

Of Berber origin by his/her father Severe Septime and Syrian by his/her mother Julia Domna, it was born in 186 with Lugdunum (today Lyon), his/her father being then a governor of the Gaulle S. Baptisé Lucius Septimius Bassianus , it was famous thereafter Marcus Aurelius Antoninus , in order to be close to the dynasty of the Antonins. Its nickname of Caracalla comes from a type of Gallic clothing to cap and long sleeves which it had habit to carry as of the twelve years age.

Accession with the capacity

His/her father became emperor in 193 and associated Caracalla with the throne in 198. To died of Severe Septime in 211, its soldiers were due to respect his will, kind Caracalla to share the capacity with his/her brother Geta. Once returned peace, the demobilized army, and the imperial family of return to Rome, he assassinated itself Geta of a blow of sword in the throat, under the eyes of their own mother, who probably tried to reconcile them. Caracalla was devoted then to murder series systematic, having for target the friends, the relations and the partisans of Geta. It made erase the name of his brother of the monuments of Rome and even prohibits, under penalty of the worst torments, than this one was pronounced in its presence. If one believes the Roman historian of it Dion Cassius, Caracalla was directly responsible for 20.000 murders during its reign.

Reign of Caracalla

When the inhabitants of Alexandria had wind of the allegations of Caracalla which claimed to have killed Publius Septimius Geta to defend oneself, they drew a satire from its lie and its other claims. Caracalla, offended by the insult, counter-attacked in 215 by organizing the massacre of the delegation of citizens come to acclaim it on his arrival in Alexandria, then released its troops on the city, which reflect it with bag, being devoted to a so terrible massacre “that the floods of blood, crossing the esplanade, went to redden the mouth, however very vast, of the Nile” ( Hérodien , IV, 9: 3-8).

At the time of its countryside against the Parthes, Caracalla asked for in marriage the girl of Artaban, the king of the Parthes. It obtained it and accompanied by all its army, went in Mésopotamie to celebrate the imperial weddings. When crowd, civilians and soldiers confused, were gathered for the festival, close to Ctésiphon, their capital, Caracalla gave a signal and the scenario of the massacre of Alexandria reproduced: the Roman soldiers ruèrent themselves on Parthes and cut the throat of them in mass. The Parthian king escaped from accuracy and any more but did not think of being avenged for Roman duplicity.

It is especially known for the edict of Caracalla, of 212 ( Constitutio Antoniniana ), guaranteeing the Roman citizenship with the free men of all the Empire (it seems however that this decision was justified by tax reasons: certain taxes, in particular on the successions, being due only by the Roman citizens); to have depreciated the Roman currency by withdrawing 25% of its being worth but replacing and silver contents to him the sum of money by the Antoninien, of the same weight than the sum of money the double; and for the vast construction thermal baths close to Rome which can still be seen and is known under the name of Thermes of Caracalla.

Died

Caracalla became during its reign a true particularly unpopular military tyrant (except near the soldiers). Whereas it went Édesse to Parthia to make the war there, it was assassinated close to Harran the April 8th 217, by Martialis. The Prefect of the court Macrin, often suspected (rightly) of having financed the assassination, succeeded to him.

Successive names

• 186, is born Lucius Septimius Bassianus
• 196, made César by his/her father: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caesar
• 198, made Auguste by his father: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus
• 198, following the victory of his/her father over Parthes: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius Augustus Parthicus Maximus
• 200, takes the nickname of Felix: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Then Felix Augustus Parthicus Maximus
• 209, following its victory of his/her father over Calédoniens: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Piuis Felix Augustus Parthicus Maximus Britannicus Maximus
• 211, reaches the Empire: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Pius Felix Augustus Parthicus Maximus Britannicus Maximus Germanicus Maximus
• 217, titulature with its death: Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Pius Felix Augustus Parthicus Maximus Britannicus Maximus Germanicus Maximus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribuniciae Potestatis XX, Imperator III, Consul IV, Patriae Lord's Prayer.

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